‘Safe on 62’ enforcement to ‘put the brakes’ on collisions
Administrator | Jun 20, 2022 | Comments 9
UPDATE: A Safe on 62 enforcement initiative blitz June 23 resulted in 76 charges on the Highway 62 corridor.
These charges were related to speeding,
class G1 driver unaccompanied by qualified passenger, and fail to move over for emergency vehicle.
Detachment Commander of the Prince Edward County OPP, Staff Sergeant John Hatch said “the results show some drivers are demonstrating a blatant disregard for traffic safety. The QRTC partners will continue to do our part to enforce and educate on our roadways. As we know, highway safety is a team sport and we need all drivers and vehicle occupants to do their part as well.”
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The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition (QRTC) is working to ‘put the brakes’ on motor vehicle collisions this summer. In 2021 alone, Ontario Provincial Police responded to 228 collisions along Highway 62.
This week, QRTC partners will be working together to monitor the corridor to encourage safe driving practices and throughout the summer, the partners will continue to prevent the ‘big four’ road safety issues that are the main contributors to motor vehicle collision injuries and deaths – distracted driving, alcohol/drug impaired driving, aggressive driving and lack of seatbelt use.
The QRTC reminds motorists to plan for a safe ride home if you intend to use substances, always wear your seatbelt, put your phone/device away and out of reach while driving, and respect the speed limits. If you’re a passenger, you have a role to play in keeping roads safe. If you notice the driver engaging in any of these behaviours, speak up!
The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition is a partnership of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Belleville Police Service, 21 Military Police Flight, CN Police Service, Tyendinaga Police Service, OPP SAVE Team, East Region Highway Safety Division and the Bancroft, Central Hastings, Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward County and Quinte West OPP Detachments. The QRTC aims to reduce the number of incidents resulting in injuries and deaths on roads, trails, and waterways in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.
Filed Under: News from Everywhere Else
Left hand turns have always been an accident in waiting.
Well if we had higher standards in our society people would compensate for inadequate road infrastructure by reducing speed and being more patient.
My road is posted at 70 and if you drove parts of it at that speed between the potholes and the twisting and turning of it you would likely be off of it. Adjust accordingly, the speed limit ought to be overruled by common sense, as it is in a snowstorm.
Somewhere along the line it became acceptable to blame other things for what amounts to human weakness.
The first thing that should be outlawed is passing turning vehicles on the right. Watch someone turn left northbound onto Burr Road when some contractor with a giant trailer uses the southbound right turn lane to pass.
As I noted prior, driver behaviour is one asspect of safe driving, but having a safe road to start with is also key and it is not within the driver’s control.
I assume that the “High Collision” signs were placed for a reason. There are far too many roads around the County that have them, but those roads leading onto to 62 need far more than signs that are not readable at night. Let’s be frank, these signs do nothing to help drivers. To spend money on police to monitor only people is not the solution to the safety issues on 62.
I invite anyone to drive south on 62 (at night) and to try and make a left turn onto County Rd 14 or any other similar road. Report back and tell us with a straight face that there isn’t a safety issue – one that could be fixed with a few reflective poles and proper lighting. A much better and cheaper solution than paying for over time and a temporary fix for the summer.
The point of the story seems to be an effort to get drivers to pay attention, stop drinking and driving, slow down and be patient. Summer brings increased traffic, increased temperature and sometimes less patience. The intention is to improve driver behaviour.
Hwy 62 is actually a pretty decent highway. Try driving Hwy 11 north of North Bay particularly between Cochrane and Longlac. That road is actually a preferred route for transports as it has fewer hills than Hwy 17. Hwy 11 is a rough, twisting route with no lighting, long stretches with no population and the ever present danger of moose and deer crossings. Hwy 62 is a dream in comparison.
I actually take Hwy 62 at night to get up to the 401 because it’s the safest route!
What needs to be remembered is that PEC has been promoting tourism and development for years – why hasn’t basic infrastructure accompanied these efforts? Highway 62 is a provincial highway, yet I can’t recall when the last upgrade to basic lighting, intersection signage and safety measures were made.
If north of Belleville is also experiencing safety problems, then perhaps a joint effort between the municipalities might be effective?? Regardless, PEC has legit concerns that have been overlooked for far too long.
The statistic quoted is for the entire length of Hwy 62, not just the portion between Bloomfield and Belleville. The highway runs all the way to Barry’s Bay. There does not seem to be a break down of the numbers for the County segment of the highway. Experience tells me that the highway is much more challenging north of Belleville.
I have no doubt that many of these collisions could have been avoided “if” two conditions existed – safer driving habits shown by drivers, AND safer roads!
Highway 62 is an accident waiting to happen because of it being a lousy road with very poor sight lines at the many intersections leading onto it. Night driving is particularly dangerous because of the poorly designated intersections. The MTO needs to place at least reflective markers and lighting at many roads feeding onto 62 to clearly indicate where the road opening is. These “High Collision Intersection” signs are next to useless. Making left turns off of 62, onto a side road, at night is a horrible experience that drivers are not responsible for.
Instead of creating a “make work” program for the police, and having the taxpayers pay huge dollars for over time (which will change nothing), why not spend some money on improving the driving conditions on 62 and save lives?